We began offering ICF or Insulated Concrete Forms as an option for home builders that wanted to really step up the quality of there new home. We have since included ICF basements as a standard on every home we build because the benefits so outweigh the limited extra cost that it would be wrong not to. ICF’s are basically forms for poured concrete walls that stay in place as a permanent part of the wall assembly. The forms, made of foam insulation or other insulating material, are either pre-formed interlocking blocks or separate panels connected with plastic ties. The left-in-place forms not only provide a continuous insulation and sound barrier, but also a backing for drywall on the inside, and stucco, siding, or brick on the outside.
The greater insulation, tighter construction, and temperature-smoothing mass of the ICF walls conserve heating and cooling energy much better than conventional wood-frame walls. This reduces monthly fuel bills by an estimated 41% so a typical 2400 square foot home in Northeast Ohio, at today's rate would save approximately $900 per year on heating costs and $180 in air conditioning each year. The larger the house and the colder the area, the larger the savings. This savings will offset any added construction costs of ICF walls, and in some cases even reduce your annual cost of ownership.
The high-mass walls of an ICF home not only give it an impressively solid feel, but they also make it safer for the family, resulting in a remarkably solid and secure investment. Concrete homes have a proven track record of withstanding the ravages of hurricanes, tornadoes and fires, when all the stick-build houses around them are in ruins. Many insurance carriers are now offering a discount on a home owner’s policy for an ICF home.
New ICF homeowners almost always remark on how unbelievably quiet their new house is, compared with their old stick-built home. They expect the new-found comfort and energy efficiency, but the peace and quiet and the protection from outside noise, never fails to surprise and delight them. In sound transmission tests, ICF walls allow less than one-third as much sound to pass through as do ordinary frame walls filled with fiberglass.
With ICF homes, the equation is simple. No Rot equals Less Repair and Maintenance. Neither polystyrene nor concrete will ever rot or rust. Concrete can even be exposed to the elements for centuries with few ill effects. Reinforcing steel, buried deep inside and protected by concrete’s alkalinity, does not corrode.
ICF homes can be designed in any style, and will accept any traditional exterior finish including vinyl or wood siding, stucco, brick and stone. Because custom angles and curves are easily created, it’s simple to build in bows, bays and radiuses. ICF systems accommodate any of today’s most popular design features, such as high walls, open floor plans, and unlimited ceiling options.
Over the last 10 years, concrete prices have been remarkably stable. Recent price increases in other materials have generated interest in concrete building systems as never before. As heating costs have risen almost 400% over the last 5 years, and there is predictions for it to continue to rise at an even faster pace, the energy savings with ICF construction will offset the majority of any added construction costs. It is very possible your cost of ownership (mortgage payment, utility bills, and maintenance) will be lower with an ICF home.
For more information regarding the ICF construction process, please click here